Preplenishing mechanism for looms



Get. 20, 1964 G. cADoRETTE REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1962 INVENTOR GEORGE CADORETTE BY w ATTORNE Y G. CADORETTE REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS oct. zo, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1962 INVENTOR GEORGE GADRETTE. MMQLM ATTORNE Y v of the next to be transferred bobbin.

United States Patent O Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation ofMaine Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,584 Claims. (Cl. 139-257) Thisinvention relates to looms for weaving and, in particular, to anautomatic replenishing mechanism for removing the tip or lling bunch ofyarn from the end of a bobbin to be transferred to a shuttle and forholding, `releasing and disposing of the filling end and tip bunch.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an easilyadjustable releasing mechanism to allow the disposition of the tip bunchand filling end of yarn at a definite point in the transfer cycle.

it is a further object to provide a mechanism to release at apredetermined position the clamping effect of the extractor jaws and theclamping plate, they having completed the act of removing from the nextbobbin to be transferred the tip bunch of yarn and filling end.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a controlmechamsm to act upon the extractor and clamping plate whose action wasinitiated, upon indication of exhaustion of filling on the bobbin in ashuttle, by movement of the transfer parts which also actuate a camoperated mechanical means causing the extractor jaws to retire fromtheir position over the bobbin tip, thereby removing the tip bunch ofyarn and holding it secure with the aid of the clamping plate. After apredetermined number of picks by the loom, the extractor mechanism isallowed to move in the opposite direction toward the tip As theextractor starts the return motion, the present invention by a simpleinclined cam member causes the extractor jaws and the clamping plate toseparate and release the filling end and l tip bunch so as to be removedby the filling end control hook.

Other objects will become apparent from the following more detaileddisclosure.

An improved method for the removal of the tip bunch from bobbins duringtransfer thereof into a shuttle has recently been disclosed wherein anycommonly known method for indicating the necessity for bobbin transferalso actuates a cam driven linkage to cause a pivotally mountedextractor arm to move from its first stationary position surrounding thetip end of the ingoing bobbin to a second stationary position at theoutward end of its arc of movement. Upon an indication that a transferof bobbin has been made, the extractor arm with its extractingmechanism, which consists of a pair of jaw members and p a clampingplate, moves back toward its first-mentioned 3,023,788 wherein theclamping plate is separated from the jaw members by striking a stopplate for the double purpose of releasing the held tip bunch and to bein position to receive .another tip bunch upon transfer of the bobbinnext in line. f

According to the present invention', an improved mechanism has beendevised for effecting the controlled release of the filling end and tipbunch at a greater distance from the end of the next to be transferredbobbin than has been previously possible. It has been found that byreleasing the tip bunch at the end of the inward movement by theextractor there are two undesirable contingencies. First, the tip bunchmayfall perpendicularly and be drawn into the open shed causing a clothdefect. Second, the tip bunch may not be released but remain in .theextractor and accumulate with one or moreother tip ice bunches untiltheir combined Weight causes them to fall and be carried into the shed.In order to release the tip bunch from the extractor in a position whereit will not be drawn into the open shed, this invention discloses thecombination of a filling clamping and an angularly inclined cam memberadjustably adapted to act against the filling clamp effecting release ofthe tip bunch so that it may be cleared away by the filling end controlhook. Since the tip bunch is released from the extractor mechanism at anoutward position from the end of the ingoing bobbin, the tip bunch doesnot fall upon or near the shuttle, so it is not drawn into the cloth.There is also more time for the filling end control hook to act indisposing of the loose end of filling and tip bunch.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to theaccompanying figures of drawing, where- FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofthe replenishing side of a loom having the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front elevation showing the relationship withthe next to be transferred bobbin; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective front elevation in partial section.

in FIG. 1 a loomside 11 supports the bobbin replenishing mechanism whichincludes an inclined chute 12 through which bobbins move `by gravity toa transfer position. An extractor arm 13 is pivotally mounted at one end14 to an L-shaped bracket 15 which is attached to the side of the chuteat 16. A linkage member 17 connects the extractor arm to an extractorarm lever 18 which is pivoted at 13 intermediate its ends. To the lowerpart of the lever, a stud 19 is adapted to move a cam follower 2li in anarc to engage the cam 21 upon Y call for replenishment to transfer abobbin in a known manner as cited in U.S. Patent No. 3,023,788.

To the forward end of the extractor arm 13 is positioned the extractormechanism generally designated 22 as shown in FiG. 3, consisting of apair of jaw members 23 and 24 and a clamping plate Z5 pivotally mountedat 26 which are biased toward each other by a coil spring 27. Fixedlyattached to the pivoted end of the clamping plate 25 and heldsubstantially at right angle thereto is formed a bell crank type memberconsisting of two opposed parallel side walls 2S and 29 interconnectedlaterally by a top surface member Sil.

Extending through and at the extreme outside end of the sidewall 28 andparallel to the top surface 30 is a camA follower pin 31. This pin ispositioned so as to raise the top surface plate 30 and, in so doing,move the clamping plate 25 away from the extractor jaws 23 and 24.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 3 where a cam support 32 isslidably adjustable on a fixed rod 33. Adjustment is made and heldsecure by any regular means such as a nut and bolt 34 in the lowerportion of the cam support. Through the upper portion of the cam support2 is inserted a rod- 35 made free to rotate, but held from lateralmovement by a means such as a xed washer 36. The inner end of rod 35 issecured to the edge of a flat surfaced cam member 37, as shown in FIG.2, and is pivotally mounted to be biased by a coil spring 33 angularlyinclined downward toward the outside of the loom.

v As the cam follower pin 31 passes up the inclined surface and isadapted to engage a plate 42 fixed to the side of.

the chute 12 so as to maintain the clamping platerout of engagement withthe extractor jaws 23 and 24 when lthe latter are in position over thetip of the bobbin, but which 3 lpin releases the clamping plate as soonas the extractor swings outwardly to remove the tip bunch.

In operation, when need `for bobbin replenishment is signaled by the100m feelerfmotion (not shown), the stud '19 makes a partial revolutionin va counterclockwise direction as seen from above. This movementplaces the cam follower' in line 'with -the face of cam 21, also movingin a counterclockwise direction. As the cam face rises, the extractorarm lever 18 pivots and draws the extractor arm 13 through its outwardarc of movement together with the extractor mechanism 22.

The extractor draws the tip bunch of filling yarn 40 from the bobbin Band the tip bunch is held by the pressure of the clamping plate 25against the extractor jaws 23 and 24. During this direction of movement,the cam follower pin 31 passes inelfectually under the cam 37 asillustrated in FlG. 4.

When transfer of the new bobbin has been made, the

extractor arm 13 and the extractor mechanism 22, still retaining itshold on the tip bunch 4) which had been removed from the previousbobbin, starts a return motion toward the tip of the next to betransferred bobbin. As this return motion starts, the cam follower pin31 follows the inclined surrace of cam 37, see FIG. 2. This raises thetop surface member 3i) and pivots the clamping plate Z5 awa-yfrom theextractor jaws 2.3 and 24 thus releasing the tip bunch as in FTQ-3,solid line drawing.

As the cam follower pin .31 passes'over the inner end of cam 37, theclamping plate and extractor jaws are again pressed together. They thenreopen as the extractor jaws pass over the tip of the new bobbin as inthe dotted line drawing of FIG. 3. They are held in this open positionfor the second time in order that when the signal for transfer is made,the new tip bunch will be extracted and held, thus starting a secondcycle as before.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means forVretaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply ofbobbins having filling wound ythereon an end of which is wound in theVform of a .tip

bunch adjacent the bobbin end, an extractor arm mova- `ble endwisetoward and away from the end of a bobbin to be transferred, a grippingmeans attached to the end of said arm which comprises a pair of jawmembers biased toward each other and defining an opening therebetween, aclamppivoted at one of its ends and biased I toward said opening, theimprovement which comprises afirst means effective to move said clampaway from said jaw members during movement of said extractor arm towardthe end of a bobbin to be transferred, and a second means latersimilarly effective upon said clamp when said jaw members are inposition over said bobbin end.

2. In combination in a loom for weaving, a bobbin feeding means forretaining and presenting for transfer to a loom shuttle a supply ofbobbins having filling wound thereon an end of which is wound in theform of a tip bunch adjacent the bobbin end, an extractor arm movablee'ndwise toward and away from the end of a bobbin to be transferred, agripping means attached to the end of said arm which comprises a pair ofjaw members biased toward each other and defining an openingtherebetween, a clamp pivoted at one of its ends and biased toward saidopening, the improvement which cornprises an angularly inclined cammember effective to move said clamp away from said jaw members duringmovement of said extractor arm toward the end of a bobbin to betransferred, and a second means later simitoward each other and deliningan opening therebetween,

a clamp pivoted at one of its ends and biased toward said opening,the'improvement which comprises a pivotally mounted, angularly inclinedcam member effective t0 move said clamp away from said jaw membersduring -movement of said extractor arm toward the end of a bobbin to betransferred, and a second means later similarly effective upon saidclamp when said jaw members are inposition over said bobbin end.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 which further includes a stopmember for limiting movement of Vsaid cam member in one direction, andspring means effective to bias said cam toward said stop member.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent vUNITED STATES PATENTS3,013,586 Banks Dec. 19, 1961 3,025,888 Thibault Mar. 20, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING, A BOBBIN FEEDING MEANS FORRETAINING AND PRESENTING FOR TRANSFER TO A LOOM SHUTTLE A SUPPLY OFBOBBINS HAVING FILLING WOUND THEREON AN END OF WHICH IS WOUND IN THEFORM OF A TIP BUNCH ADJACENT THE BOBBIN END, AN EXTRACTOR ARM MOVABLEENDWISE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE END OF A BOBBIN TO BE TRANSFERRED, AGRIPPING MEANS ATTACHED TO THE END OF SAID ARM WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OFJAW MEMBERS BIASED TOWARD EACH OTHER AND DEFINING AN OPENINGTHEREBETWEEN, A CLAMP PIVOTED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS AND BIASED TOWARD SAIDOPENING, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST MEANS EFFECTIVE TO MOVESAID CLAMP AWAY FROM SAID JAW MEMBERS DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID EXTRACTORARM TOWARD THE END OF A BOBBIN TO BE TRANSFERRED, AND A SECOND MEANSLATER SIMILARLY EFFECTIVE UPON SAID CLAMP WHEN SAID JAW MEMBERS ARE INPOSITION OVER SAID BOBBIN END.